Filmmaking is a creative journey that often feels like a balancing act. On one hand, there’s the rush of storytelling and the joy of capturing moments, and on the other, the pressure to get every detail just right. Landon, from Full Time Filmmaker, knows this struggle all too well. After burning out creatively in the past, he rediscovered his love for making videos by filming himself. This process not only reignited his passion but also made him a better filmmaker.
In this video, Landon shares valuable insights on how photographers can take their shooting skills to the next level by embracing simplicity, creativity, and consistency. These tips are designed to help you make your videos more cinematic without overcomplicating the process.
One of the biggest hurdles Landon faced when filming himself was lighting. The pressure to make every light setting perfect became overwhelming. Over time, he realized that the key to creating beautiful videos doesn’t always require complex lighting setups, sometimes, simplicity is all you need.
Landon suggests using natural light and practical lights (like lamps, windows, or even garage doors) to light your scene. By working with what’s available, photographers and filmmakers can avoid overthinking lighting setups. For example, in his garage, Landon uses two garage doors that can be adjusted to control the direction and intensity of light. This approach not only saves time but also brings a more organic, effortless feel to the footage.
Lighting Spaces, Not Just Faces
When shooting a subject, most filmmakers instinctively prioritize lighting the face. While this is an important step, Landon emphasizes lighting the entire space instead. If the space itself is well-lit, your subject will naturally look good within it. Instead of focusing solely on perfecting the lighting of a face, experiment with different angles and camera placements that allow the light to hit the subject in a flattering way.
For instance, if you’re shooting a wide shot, you might need to adjust your camera to ensure the lighting feels right. In medium or tight shots, you can play around with positioning to cheat toward or away from the light. This technique will help create more dynamic footage while still maintaining the overall cinematic feel.
Capture Unique Perspectives
One of the most exciting aspects of filmmaking is discovering new ways to tell a story. Landon encourages photographers and filmmakers to experiment with unusual angles and perspectives that go beyond the traditional tripod shot. He even created his own acronym, SHOT, to remind himself of essential shot types:
- S: Standout shots (clear, epic views of your subject)
- H: Hero shots (heroic angles that showcase action or emotion)
- O: Opening shots (establishing shots that set the scene)
- T: Texture shots (close-ups of intricate details that add depth)
By imagining how different creatures (like a mouse, bug, or bird) would view a scene, filmmakers can experiment with fresh, unexpected angles that make their videos more captivating. Mixing in these unique perspectives will add a layer of unpredictability and visual interest to your footage.
Simple Set Design: Less Is More
When filming yourself or shooting in an everyday environment, it’s easy to think your space needs to be perfectly staged. Landon’s advice? Keep it simple. Your home or workspace can provide an authentic backdrop for your projects without the need for elaborate setups. In his own kitchen, Landon tweaks a few things, like moving a lamp or adding a plant, to enhance the scene.
The best part about filming in your own space is that it’s personal and unique to you. You don’t need a pristine set; instead, add small touches that make the space feel complete and reflect your style.
Build a B-Roll Library
Filming yourself daily is a great way to build up a personal B-roll library. Landon recommends capturing various moments throughout the day, whether it’s cooking, working, or simply hanging out, and saving these clips for later use. When it’s time to put together a more intentional video, you can pull from this library, saving time and effort on reshoots. This approach gives you more flexibility in post-production and allows you to create more dynamic content without needing to plan every shot in advance.
Don’t Forget the Power of Color Grading
Lastly, colour grading can make all the difference in achieving that cinematic look. Landon suggests adding colour grading to your videos to enhance their mood and consistency. Proper grading can transform an ordinary video into something visually stunning.
Filming yourself doesn’t need to be complicated or stressful. Landon’s approach reminds us that the best filmmaking often comes from simplicity and authenticity. Have a watch of the full video below:
